On 1-2 October 2019, Strength2Food took part in the 2nd Global Sustainable Rice Conference and Exhibition in Bangkok, an event that aims to facilitate knowledge sharing within the growing global community of rice stakeholders who share a vision of sustainability for the sector.

It was against this backdrop that Prof. Orachos Napasintuwong from Strength2Food partner Kasetsart University held a presentation regarding a local Jasmine rice variety, the ‘Khao Hom Mali’, for which in 2006 the Thai government encouraged the registration of geographical indication (GI) at national level. Subsequently, in 2013, ‘Khao Hom Mali Thung Kula Rong-Hai’ became the first rice product from outside the European Union to be registered as protected geographical indication (PGI). In her contribution, aiming to raise awareness on the sustainability impact of geographical indications, Prof. Napasintuwong gave an overview of the definition of a GI rice standard, the control systems of the geographical indication and the socioeconomic and environmental indicators of certified GI Khao Hom Mali Thung Kula Rong-Hai.

At the end of the presentation, the audience engaged in a discussion touching upon, among other things, profit margins for farmer, social indicators such as generation change, and the possibility of promotion of GI products, given the fact that they have proven beneficial to local communities.